Gabon’s President, Ali Bongo, was deposed by military officials on Wednesday, following a statement from the officers of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions.
The coup was attributed to severe institutional, political, economic, and social crises.
This comes shortly after an unresolved coup in Niger Republic.
The African continent has seen 214 attempted coups since 1950, with 106 succeeding.
The Gabonese officers invalidated the recent elections in which Ali Bongo was declared the winner, aiming to restore peace.
Ali Bongo, born Alain Bernard Bongo on February 9, 1959, in Congo-Brazzaville, studied law at the Sorbonne.
He received an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Wuhan University in 2018.
He is the son of former president Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon for 42 years until his death in 2009.
Bongo converted to Islam and adopted the name ‘Ali.
He held various positions under his father’s administration, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy in the National Assembly, and Minister of Defence.
Ali Bongo became Gabon’s President in 2009 and won re-election in 2016 amid allegations of irregularities and human rights violations.
His bid for a third term was thwarted by the military’s takeover in 2023, ending his 14-year rule.
Apart from politics, Bongo is a music enthusiast and released a funk album titled ‘A Brand New Man’ in 1977.
He is married to Sylvia Valentin, with whom he has four children.
Bongo initiated government streamlining efforts in 2009 by reducing corruption and eliminating 17 minister-level positions and the vice presidency.
He faced health challenges, suffering a stroke during an official trip to Riyadh in 2018 and reappearing in August 2019 after a 10-month absence from public duties.
